The story of what happened to Bijan Ebrahimi in the middle of the night at the hands of his neighbour in Brislington shocked not only our city but the nation.

But now, for the first time, the full story of how the 44-year-old complained for years about abuse from his racist neighbours - and was routinely and systematically disbelieved, ignored and mocked by the very police officers he sought help from, can now be told.

An Independent Police Complaints Commission report, released today, details in painstaking and painful detail the minutiae of his cries for help, his reports of crimes, assaults, vandalism and abuse, and how they were dismissed by a series of police officers.

The IPCC investigators said they couldn't understand why officers sent to deal with that situation automatically took the side of those threatening Mr Ebrahimi, even though they had never been sent to deal with him before.

They unravelled years of ignoring Mr Ebrahimi by officers, who labelled him a liar who made up stories, forming a culture in the local Neighbourhood Policing Team which permeated through to every officer who dealt with him. It was a culture exposed only when it was too late, and an ambulance crew was called to find his dead body, sickeningly still on fire, outside his home.

Time Line

Seven years of abuse and discrimination before Bijan Ebrahimi was murdered

2000-2001

Bijan Ebrahimi, a 30-year-old single man, escapes Iran and is granted asylum as a refugee in Britain.

2005 - Bijan is the victim of a horrific attack

Living in a shared private rented house in Bedminster, another housemate significantly scalds him by throwing hot water over him. The attacker is jailed.

November 2006 - Bijan moves to Brislington

After an arson attack in Bedminster, Mr Ebrahimi is moved to The Whartons, a block of flats in Brislington.

2007 Bijan makes nine reports of crimes against him

He reports three arson attacks against him, one person threatening to kill him, one race abuse incident and one time when his door is defaced with graffiti.

2007 Bijan is moved from his flat at The Whartons to Capgrave Crescent

In the hope it would help stop friction with neighbours, he is moved. But his new home is only around the corner from the previous one, and soon the abuse begins again.

2008 - Crimes against him escalate.

Now moved to Capgrave Crescent, Mr Ebrahimi calls police to make 21 reports of crimes, including threats to kill, assault, being struck by a car, racial abuse from neighbours and children, stones being thrown at his door and criminal damage.

2009 - Police ignore reports of crimes against Bijan

He reports 18 crimes against him, including threats, a threat with a knife, being punched and spat at, and suffering racial abuse. Only eight are recorded as crimes.

2009 - Police begin to twist events

One record of a crime reported by Bijan Ebrahimi wrongly states: "Informant is a serial complainer about his neighbours and investigations always reveal informant to be the aggressor."

2009 - The counter-allegations begin

Mr Ebrahimi is falsely accused of sexual assault by a neighbour.

2010 - Police 'dismissive' of Mr Ebrahimi's complaints

During 2010 he makes 11 crime reports, including threats to kill, being punched in the face, having rocks thrown at him and racial abuse. Only three are recorded as crimes and officers are "often dismissive of his reports, choosing to accept others' accounts over his".

2011 - PC Kevin Duffy doesn't believe Bijan

Mr Ebrahim makes five crime reports, including assault, criminal damage and racial harassment. PC Kevin Duffy updates a log: "He has a history of making spurious complaints against his neighbours".

2012 - The abuse continues

Mr Ebrahimi makes seven crime reports, including assault and threats to kill, along with racist abuse. Only three are recorded as crimes.

January to June 2013 - no one believes him

Mr Ebrahimi makes two crime reports, of assault and racial abuse. Neither is recorded. At this point the report finds his neighbours, the perpetrators, believe they can "act with impunity".

July 2013 - The scene is set

After making contact with the police 120 times in six and a half years, Mr Ebrahimi is living in a flat where many of neighbours racially abuse him and wrongly brand him a paedophile.

July 11, 2013 - Bijan is arrested

Mr Ebrahimi is confronted and assaulted in his flat by Lee James, who accuses him of photographing his children.Police arrive as a crowd gathers and eventually, after arguing for hours, PC Helen Harris arrests Mr Ebrahimi for a breach of the peace.

July 12, 2013 - Bijan is released

Mr Ebrahimi is sent home without being charged and a crowd gradually builds outside his home. He calls police 12 times during that day and evening, telling police the crowd is threatening to kill him. He asks for PC Kevin Duffy, who refuses to speak to him.

July 13 - Police continue to ignore Bijan

Mr Ebrahimi continues to try to speak with police officers who had been dealing with the incidents over the previous two days, but no one calls him back

July 14 - 12.12am

A final call to the police is made by Bijan at 12.12am on July 14. PC Leanne Winter (pictured) refuses to speak to him and tells the call-handler he is "an absolute idiot".

July 14 - 1.20am Bijan's body is found

Within an hour of his final call for help, Mr Ebrahimi has been battered to death by Lee James. With the help of another neighbour, Stephen Norley, James sets his body on fire in the grassed area in front of their homes, where it is found by children camping out for the night, who have heard Mr Ebrahimi's screams. Police are called at 1.20am.

November 28, 2013 - James is jailed

Lee James was jailed for life for the murder of Bijan Ebrahimi. Norley (pictured) given four years

Dec 2015 - Police on trial

PC Kevin Duffy and PCSO Andrew Passmore are convicted of misconduct in public office and are jailed.

January 2015 - Police officers are sacked

Duffy and Passmore are dismissed from the police, as are PCs Harris and Winter